Tape container



W. M. SCHOLL TAPE CONTAINER July 18, 1950 Filed Feb. 5, 1945 [Hf/5.271271" fVZ/[zzm 1%. 55/517 U m/ a 4534/5 Patented July 18, 1950 TAPE CONTAINER William M. Scholl, Chicago, Ill.

Application February 5, 1945, Serial No. 576,197

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a tape container and a method of making the same, the tape container being highly desirable for the packaging of pressure-sensitive adhesive tape, pa-

per tape in various colors, cloth tape, surgical tape, etc., although the invention may have other uses .and purposes as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

In the past, manyv and varioustypes of tape containers have been developed. Many of these tape containers embodied a flanged spool around the barrel of which the tape was wound, and a cylindrical cover telescopically associated with the spool with some means on the cover for frictional engagement with the spool flanges. These formerly known devices were, however, objectionable in that in most cases one could not visualize the tape inside the container, could not determine the quantity of tape upon the spool without opening the container, and at the outset could not tell the character or color of the tape except by reliance upon matter printed on the outside of the container, in the event it was impossible to open the spool at the time a selection was made. Further, these formerly known devices frequently required the use of metal'in order to provide a satisfactorily operating construction, and were in most instances objectionably costly to manufacture.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an important object of the instant invention to provide an economical and highly eflicient tape holder within which the tape is visible to the eye at all times without requiring an opening of the container.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a tape container in which both the spool around the barrel of which the tape is wound as well as the cover for the spool are made of a plastic material.

Still another object of'the invention resides in the provision of a tape container embodying a flanged spool, and a substantially cylindrical cover frictionally engageable over the flanges of the spool, which cover is made of substantially transparent plastic material.

Still a further object of the instant invention resides in the provision of a tape container embodying a molded plastic flangedspool, and a cover for telescopic association over the flanges of the spool, which cover is a section cut from a transparent plastic tubing, with end formations provided on that section to enhance the frictional engagement of the cover with the flanges of spool.

It is a further feature of the instant invention to provide a tape container embodying a flanged spool, and a transparent plastic covering for the spool, the cover being substantially cylindrical, having outwardly upset end portions, and a row of spaced indentations formed in the cover adjacent each end thereof inside the upset portion, such indentations being of such character that the flanges of the spool may be snapped thereby, but which frictionally engage the outer faces of the spool flanges.

Still another feature of the instant invention is the provision of a new and novel method of making a tape container.

The advantages of the tape container of the character embodied in the instant invention are numerous. Such advantages include the clear visibility of the tape at all times so that when the tape is placed on sale on the counter of a store or the like, tape of the proper character and color may be quickly selected by the customer without the necessity of exposing the tape to handling by the prospective customer. Further, the amount of tape remaining upon the spool may be readily ascertained at any time without the necessity of opening the container or exposing the tape to air,

' and when the container is closed it is substantially air-tight, dust-proof, and easy to manipulate.

While some of the more sailent features, characteristics and advantages of the instant invention have been above pointed out, others will become apparent from the following disclosures,

taken in conjunction with the accompanying the line III-III of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure l is an enlarged fragmentary elevaface of the respective .flange.

tional view illustrating a step in the making of a part of the tape container;

Figure is a central vertical sectional view indicating a further step in the making of a part of the container; and

Figure 6 is a view similar in character to Figure 5 indicating the final steps in the making of the same part of the container, and illustrating that part in a finished condition.

As shown on the drawings:

In the illustrated embodiment of the instant invention there is shown a tape container embodying two parts, a spool around the barrel of which the tape may be wound, anda cover for telescopic association with that spool.

The spool, which is generally indicated by numeral I, is preferably molded from a suitable plastic material, which plastic may be an opaque cellulose acetate, or another type of moldable plastic. A highly satisfactory process of forming the spool is the injection molding process.

The molded spool embodies a barrel'Z around which a quantity of tape may be woundas indicated at 3-, and, in the illustrated instance, the spool is provided with a radially extending flange 4 at eachend thereof. Of course,.the tape 3 wound. around the barrel of the spool may :be of substantially any desired character, including pressure-sensitive adhesive tape, paper tape in various colors, cloth tape in various colors, :mending tape, surgical tape, decorative tape, .etc.

A cover 5 is provided for the spool "l. This cover is preferably made of a transparent plastic material and is provided *with upset end portions 66. In the 'illustratedembodiment of the invention, a row of concavo-convex inwardly extending indentations l is provided around each end of the cover just inside the upset portion. As is best seen in Figure 3, the indentations are of such depth and size that the circumferential series of indentations adjacent each 'end of the cover are such that a flange ofthe container may be snapped or forced thereby, and the indentations will frictionally engage the outer side sur- At the same time, the cover itselfis of such diameter as to establish a frictional engagement with the circumferential edges of theflanges.

.The cover is telescopically associated with the flanges of the spool by .a .relative longitudinal .movement of the respective .parts, -.until the spool is seated so that the .flanges .are inside the .cir-

-cu'mferential series of indentations .I, as seen in .Figure 3. The container is then in :closed position and maybe repeatedly opened and closed merely by forcing-the spool out of thecover. The upsetting at the ends of the .cover indicated by numeral 6 not only enhance the frictional engagement of the cover with the spoolilanges, but also tendto reinforce-the cover so thatit will-not split or crack after repeated usage. The indentations provide an effective medium-of holding the spool within the coveragainstaccidental dislodgment if the-container is subjected .to .unexpected pressure, so that the container will not be accidentally opened.

When the container is closed, the tape is protected, the container being substantially airtight, and obviously dust-proof. Further, due to the transparencyof the cover, the tape is visible at all times even to the .most casual observer.

Consequently, when purchased in the store the tape may be selected and the customer acquires the desired character and color of tape without '4 necessitating exposing the tape or handling the naked tape by the customer. At any time during possession of the container, the user may by the most casual glance ascertain approximately the amount of tape left in the container.

With reference to Figures 4, 5 and 6, it will be seen that my method of making the cover 5 includes the initial step of severing a section 8 of desired length from a tubing of transparent plastic material, preferably an extruded tubing. As seen in Figure 4, the tubing indicated b numeral 9 may be severed in any suitable manner along the dotted line It] to provide a section 8 of desired lengthfor the formation of one of the covers 5. The section 8 is then'taken and with the aid of a heated die is outwardly upset at each end to provide the upset portions seen clearly in Figure 5.

After that, the circumferential series of projections 1 may be pressed into the cover 5 by suitable heated 'die means to provide the resultant structure seen in Figure 6. The indentations, as

stated above, are preferably provided just inside the upset portions 66.

It will be appreciated that the practice of this method is economical, and results in a sturdy,

durable, and transparent cover for the container. .It will, of course, be understood that the various steps of the process as well as various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and ,itis, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as myinvention: .1. The method of making a tape container, in-

cluding the steps of forming a flanged spool around the barrel of which tape may be wound,

cutting .a desired length from a tube of transparent plasticmaterial of the proper diameter to pass over but ,frictionally engage the flanges of said spool,.applying heat to the ends of saidlength of tubing to outwardly upset the ends thereof, anddie-pressing spaced indentations around each endof said length of tubing inside the upset portions by which the spool flanges may snap when thespool is inserted in the tube.

2. The method of making a tape container, including-molding a flanged spool of plastic material around the barrel of which spool tape may be wound, cutting a section of desired length from a tube of transparent plastic, upsetting the ends of said section, and pressing indentations adjacent the ends thereof in addition to said upsetting to enhance the frictional grip of the cover on the flanges of said spool to retain the spool within the cover against accidental dislodgement.

3. The method of .making a generally .cylindrical cover for a tape spool, including the steps of cutting a desired length from a tube of transparent plastic material of proper diameter to pass over .but frictionally engage the spool, applyingheat to the ends of said length of tubing, and upsetting the ends of the length of tubing to provide outwardly flared rims on both ends, andforming indentations in an annular series inside each upset end.

4. The method of making a generally cylindrical cover for a tapespool, including the steps of cutting a desired length from a tube of transparent plastic material of proper diameter to pass over but frictionally engage the spool, applying heat to the ends of said length of tubing, outwardly upsetting the ends of said length of tubing, and forming indentations in an annular series inside each upset end of the length of tubing.

5. A tape container including a flanged spool around the barrel of which tape may be wound, a cover in the general form of an open-ended cylinder in telescopic association with said spool, said cover being of substantially transparent :plastic material and. having its ends terminating in similar outwardly turned upset free edges, and formations in said cover engaging the spool flanges.

WILLIAM M. SCHOLL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 953,290 Rebentisch Mar. 29, 1910 1,719,153 Wertz July 2, 1929 Number Number 

